Summary of
The Optimism Bias

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In spite of life’s setbacks, most people remain hopeful. This is due in part to the “optimism bias,” a cognitive trait 80% of the population shares. In a TED Talk that informs as it entertains, neuroscientist Tali Sharot explores this trait and whether it’s self-delusional or self-fulfilling – or both. She concludes that awareness of the bias won’t dampen your optimism, so getAbstract recommends her lecture to positive thinkers and realists alike.

In this summary, you will learn

How the “optimism bias” influences people’s thinking and behavior,

Why it is a healthy cognitive trait, and

How researchers discovered the location of the bias in the brain.

About the Speaker

Tali Sharot wrote The Optimism Bias. She is a neuroscientist and a professor at University College London.